Portuguese Cheese Named World’s Best For 2024

Tired of the usual cheddar? Consider trying Queijo de Ovelha Amanteigado, a soft, raw ewe’s milk cheese that was crowned the world’s best cheese at the World Cheese Awards, Barry Neild reported for CNN.

Made with vegetarian rennet derived from thistles, the champion cheese is described as gooey, glossy, and buttery, with a herby bitterness. I Photo: Paulo Fernandes, Guild of Fine Food

This year’s event, held in the Portuguese city of Viseu, was the largest since its inception in 1988.

A total of 4,786 cheeses from 47 countries were judged by a panel of 240 international experts. The winning cheese, produced by Quinta do Pomar, a small company with just 10 employees based in Soalheira, Portugal, scored the highest among 14 finalists.

These finalists included five Swiss entries, as well as cheeses from Brazil, the United States, Norway, Italy, Germany, and Spain.

Made with vegetarian rennet derived from thistles, the champion cheese is described as gooey, glossy, and buttery, with a herby bitterness. It is traditionally served by slicing off the top and spooning out the creamy center.

“It’s quite balanced … voluptuous,” said Portuguese cheese exporter Manuel Maia, one of the jurors. “It’s a sublime match of protein and fat. Truly a fantastic cheese.”